"I want YOU to marry him!" Flora repeated, her gaze shifting from the ceiling to Chloe, filled with resentment and bitterness."No, that's impossible!" Chloe shot to her feet. Yes, she feared Flora's death, but she wouldn't allow herself to be manipulated. "Flora, are you out of your mind? Isn't he the man you've always wanted to marry?"Something about Chloe's words set Flora off. The moment she finished speaking, Flora burst into another round of loud, heart-wrenching sobs.Chloe was stunned. Could an illness really change someone's personality so drastically? In her memory, Flora had always been a tough, calculating character, not someone who would cry so easily."I want you to marry him. Will you do it or not?" Flora demanded between sobs, her eyes fixed on Chloe."I won't!"What new trick was Flora trying to pull? Wasn't Chloe already suffering enough? Did she really need to force her to marry the man who had destroyed her life?Chloe made up her mind—she would rather die than ma
Cold. Chloe's entire body felt as if it were enduring the chill of a midwinter night. She was like a solitary leaf trembling in the wind, on the brink of falling.Chloe knew very well that taking Flora's place in this marriage would mean the end of her own life.From that moment on, she would have to live under Flora's name, and the person known as Chloe—both in name and in existence—would disappear completely.So be it. This was the tragedy of being Chloe.The ivy crawled up the walls, its leaves so densely packed and vibrantly green that they almost glistened in the light, their life force palpable as they swayed in the breeze. Such was the brilliant life of the ivy. And her life? It was all shades of gray."Miss Flora!" A low male voice called from behind her.Chloe tensed, her hand gripping the ivy frozen in midair.Was he calling her? No, it couldn't be. She was Chloe! The thought flashed through her mind instinctively."Miss Flora!" The man called again.Yes, he was indeed calli
Chloe slowly turned around. Amos stood a short distance behind her.Flora's expression remained cold and detached as her gaze briefly swept over Amos. She then continued walking forward as if he didn't exist.Amos's eyes were filled with anger. How dare this woman ignore him! He vividly remembered the time when she clung to him like a delicate bird.Recalling the scene he just witnessed, his fists clenched, and his eyes reddened with fury. Watching her walk away, he shouted at her retreating figure, "You'd rather sell yourself than look at me! How could you be so cheap?"Chloe froze, biting her lip as she stopped in her tracks. She didn't turn around, gripping the fabric of her sleeve tightly. Treating his words like the barking of a stray dog, she resumed walking.Amos was utterly enraged by her indifference. "Is money all you care about? Fine! If you're selling, then sell yourself to me! I'll pay you double what you asked for!"This damned woman! He loved her so much, but she tossed
Inside the house, the luxurious decor and grand setting were immediately apparent. The large curtains of the massive glass windows were drawn back, revealing the shimmering pool outside and a vast front garden filled with exotic flowers. The servants seemed to have been specially trained, moving with identical grace and rhythm.A woman in her fifties, dressed in a sharp blue suit, approached Chloe. Her eyes were full of shrewdness and efficiency. The other maids and servants bowed respectfully as she passed, then went back to their duties of cleaning and polishing."Madam, I'm the housekeeper here. You can call me Grace," the woman said, her sharp gaze assessing Chloe. Although she addressed her as "Madam," there was no respect in her eyes—only a cold, detached indifference."Grace," Chloe replied casually, not bothered by Grace's frosty demeanor. She hadn't expected to be respected upon entering this house anyway.The moment she stepped into the house, Chloe felt a deep chill creepin
The entire agreement, rather than merely imposing various restrictions on her, was more like an alternative form of humiliation.For instance, she was forbidden from being in the living room at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., from appearing on any path Lionel walked, and from being present whenever there were guests in the house.Unless Lionel explicitly allowed it, her identity as his wife required her to remain confined within the mansion.Without a word, Chloe picked up the pen and swiftly signed "Flora Miler." She felt a slight sense of gratitude towards this devilish man for showing a shred of mercy by allowing her to escape, even if she didn't know when that day might come. At least, she could see a glimmer of hope.As she looked at Flora's signature, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Her so-called sister had threatened her with death to force her into marrying this man, even though she knew that Chloe saw him as nothing short of a beast. Yet Flora still coerced her into marriage
Chloe barely registered the rest of what the bank teller was saying. Her mind was consumed with a searing rage.She quickly informed Cynthia that their meeting would have to be rescheduled and then wandered aimlessly through the bustling crowd.Cynthia's last words echoed in her mind: "Chloe, what's going on with you? You've disappeared for two months without a trace, and now, when we finally meet, you cancel again. What on earth are you doing?"Yes, what was she doing? She kept asking herself this as she walked. She hadn't gotten the money, and now that man had trampled on her dignity.Chloe hadn't realized the Williams family was hosting a banquet tonight. As she stepped inside, she was greeted by a row of luxury cars parked in neat formation. Through the grand entrance, she could see Lionel leaning casually against the bar, holding a glass of champagne, engaged in conversation.That domineering, seemingly harmless face of his infuriated her, and she quickened her pace, heading stra
Lionel froze, his expression unchanged, but his eyes turned menacing.The entire hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Chloe, some in admiration, others in shock, surprise, or even pity.Grace was so shocked she nearly jumped, quickly rushing over with a towel. Lionel calmly wiped the wine from his face with the towel she handed him.For two months, this woman hadn't said a word to him. They hadn't even properly met during that time. She had stayed quiet and obedient within the boundaries he had set, breathing her own air.In these two months, he hadn't heard a peep from her, nor had the servants reported any complaints from her. He had assumed that she had finally succumbed to his overpowering presence, forced to submit to his will.Apparently, he had been wrong. Very wrong.This woman wasn't just unafraid—she had the audacity to throw wine in his face!Two months ago, this woman had flirtatiously served him drinks at Paradiso, seductively dancing around him, her coquettish
Chloe wished she could slap him, but she felt guilty."I did sell myself…" The word ‘sell' got stuck in her throat. "But you haven't even paid me! All you gave me was a frozen bank card," she added quickly. "I don't even want the half a million, I'll find a way to pay it back."Ha! Playing hard to get again!This woman never missed a chance to put on a show."You don't understand basic business? No goods, no payment," Lionel said, his tone businesslike.Chloe was furious, at a loss for words.She regretted it now—regretted ever giving in to Flora and her mother's pressure to come here and endure his humiliation!At first, she had naively thought they could live like strangers under the same roof. Even though she had vanished from the world, at least her mother and brother had a chance to thrive."That shabby outfit doesn't suit you!" Lionel's gaze swept up and down her body, finally resting on her defiant eyes. "You're different today—trying to get my attention? Well, you succeeded!"